Where faith and reason are compatible. D e c e m b e r 6, 2 0 1 8 Houses of Hope by Sandi Austin By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. Proverbs 24:3-4 Of the 100 or so homes nestled in a southwest Longmont neighborhood, 21 are Habitat for Humanity homes, some having been constructed prior to the 2013 flood. A volunteer works just outside a second-story bedroom window. Rebecca Shannon, Outreach and Volunteer Manager of Habitat for Humanity of the St. Vrain Valley, gave me a hardhat and led me through a home construction in what is called the Poplar Grove development. We walked around in a four-bedroom unit that, when completed, will be occupied by a single mother and her four children. The mother works full time in the H.R. Department at Walmart. We have all types of families living here so far, Rebecca explained. There are residents living in this neighborhood who are in the healthcare industry, the restaurant business, and employed by the St. Vrain Valley School District, to name a few. When Habitat for Humanity purchases a property on which to build, the required permits are acquired, and then the application process starts for families wanting a home of their own. Families that apply for homeownership must have full time employment, good background and criminal history checks, and the ability to repay the mortgage. The families also must have a connection with Longmont, by either already living here or working at a Longmont business. They must also put in sweat equity in their future home, Rebecca added. Of those hours put into helping with the construction, 24 hours of classes in finance, home maintenance and being a good neighbor are required. Many people have the misconception that these are free homes giveaways...continued on next page
P a g e 2 but that s not the case. These people are employed full time and pay a mortgage, just like everyone else. The only difference is that these qualifying families receive no-interest loans, and their mortgage payments are calculated at 27 percent of their income when they move in. We don t make a profit off selling these homes to qualifying families, Rebecca said. Habitat for Humanity buys the property, and sometimes properties are donated, and that s the ideal situation. Seen behind the current construction is a row of completed homes occupied by families who benefited from the labors of Habitat for Humanity and its many volunteers. Rebecca went on to explain that Habitat for Humanity is always looking for partners. A lot of local businesses, clubs and church groups volunteer their time and talents. Some businesses and contractors provide financial support with material donations or volunteer work. As an example, Whirlpool donates all the appliances to these homes, she added, and the families can choose the color they want. Habitat for Humanity sells homes at cost and are able to do so, thanks to the volunteers. As Rebecca put it, it makes homeownership possible for those who otherwise would not be able to purchase a home. These volunteers who help build believe in what we re doing, Rebecca said. They want to do it right, do it safely, and with pride. Bob Dugan, a retired Boulder builder, has been volunteering for Habitat for Humanity for eight or nine years. This is a very worthwhile cause, he said. You feel more blessed when you re helping. Volunteers benefit so much, Rebecca said. They hear the families stories, get to know them, and find out that, even with differing social or economic status, we celebrate what we do have in common. The families that have already established homeownership in Poplar Grove have a sense of pride and a hopeful future, just as future families will come to know. The last row of two-story homes is under construction at the Poplar Grove development site in SW Longmont. And you will feel secure, because there is hope, you will look around and take your rest in security. Job 11:18 (During our December Compassion Offering, please remember Habitat for Humanity, which is already working on plans for two cottages that will be handicapped accessible. Let s help the keep up the good work!)
P a g e 3 A Prayer for the Advent Season Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ. A United Methodist pastor wrote a special prayer which is easy for individuals, churches, or families to use during this season of anticipation. This video puts his words with imagery and features narration by the Rev. Gary Henderson. Easy to watch and share as an individual, or use before or during worship. Advent Devotion by the Rev. Jerry Chism Oh Immanuel, God with us, truly in this Advent season we celebrate that you are not hidden in some faraway cloud, but you chose to be with us in the blur and mystery of our lives. In the midst of lists and rush, you are with us as a song that echoes in our minds, as the light of a candle, as a card from a friend. They are signs of your presence. We turn to you this season and pray that you would birth joy and healing, blessing and hope in us. Let something wonderful begin in us something surprising and holy. May your hand be upon us. Let your love fill us. Let your joy overwhelm us. Let our longing for you be met on a coming holy night. Immanuel with us once again. Amen. Originally posted at http://www.umc.org/resources/a-prayer-for-the-adventseason.
P a g e 4 Thanks for joining us last Sunday! Thank you for joining us last Sunday (December 2, 2018) for our Annual Children s Christmas Program and Chili Cook-off. We enjoyed watching the Heart of Longmont kids perform during service and enjoyed delicious (and spicy!) chili with friends afterwards. Another big thank you to everyone who organized the program and cook-off. Check out pics from these events below:
P a g e 5 Habitat for Humanity Build Day ~ Dec. 8 An opportunity to give hope to a family in need has come up again on Saturday, December 8, from 9-4 pm. It s Habitat for Humanity Build Day and, if you ve participated in this event before, you know what it s all about. If you haven t, it s a day of working to build a home with other volunteers. You just need the will to give of your time and whatever talent you may bring to the build site. We have a job for everyone and all are welcome! If you are thinking about volunteering on Build Day, please make sure to email Terry Monroe at terrymonroe00@gmail.com or 303-587-1064. You will receive additional information via email. Prospective New Member Luncheon On Sunday, December 9, right after the worship service, we will have an informational luncheon to learn more about the United Methodist Church and Heart of Longmont, up to and including membership. You will be able to meet some of our team leaders, and Pastor David will share his faith story and answer any questions. Pizza and salad from Abos will be served, and childcare will be provided. You may sign up at the Hospitality Center, or feel free to make last minute plans to attend.
P a g e 6 Merry & Bright ~ Longs Peak Chorus On Friday, December 14, and Saturday, December 15, the Longs Peak Chorus will present their 2018 Christmas Concert Merry and Bright at our church. Many members from our church family sing in the Chorus. Performances will be at 7:00 pm on Friday evening and 2:30 pm on Saturday afternoon. The Longs Peak Chorus is a cappella singing organization of the Longmont Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, the world s largest all-male singing Society, with 22,000 members across North America. Through active programs in music education, publishing, performance, and outreach, the Society preserves and extends the reach of a uniquely American close harmony musical art form whose roots lay in African-American improvisation and European harmony traditions. Tickets are on sale NOW! $15 in advance, $17 at the door, kids 12 and under are FREE. To purchase go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ longs-peak-chorus-annual-christmas-show-merry-bright-tickets- 51346041392longspeakchristmas2018.eventbrite.com, http:// longspeakchorus.org, or call 720-675-8247. $2 of each ticket sold will go to HOPE for Longmont (http://hopeforlongmont.org/). Featured on the show will be Landlocked, a top 10 regional quartet from Denver, and the 5280 Youth Chorus, also from Denver. Christmas Music Spectacular Join us on Sunday, December 16, for our Christmas Music Spectacular from 10 to 11 am. There will be performances from all of Heart of Longmont s musical groups (Chancel Choir, Handbell Choir, God s House Band and the Soul Singers). Come join in the fun and sing-a-long to all your Christmas favorites!
P a g e 7 Christmas Eve Services We will have our regular service at 10 am on Sunday, December 23, and then on Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24, we ll have a 4:30 pm family oriented worship celebration and a 7:00 pm traditional worship service featuring vocal choirs and a bell choir. Each service will conclude with a traditional candle-light singing of Silent Night. All are welcome, please join us! Christmas Poinsettias Poinsettias are a part of the beauty of the Sanctuary during our Christmas Eve services. If you would like to contribute a poinsettia(s), please fill out an order form. Order forms are available at the church office and during service on Sundays. The cost is $18.00 per plant. Enclose your check with your order and place it in the offering plate, or bring it to the church office during the week. The last day to order your poinsettia(s) is Sunday, December 16. 2018 UMW Reading Program Participants To all 2018 United Methodist Women Reading Program Participants, please deposit your reading program list in the basket on the library desk by December 15, 2018, if you haven t already turned it in. Thank you!
P a g e 8 It s time to RING those Christmas Bells again! Each year our church folks help to ring the bells for the Salvation Army red kettles! I ve already heard requests Are we going to ring the bells again? Well YES we are!! Saturdays December 8 and December 15 are our opportunity to help support this worth while project where all the funds raised stay in Longmont. With the money earned last year, the OUR Center has been able to help 285 people with rental assistance, utility assistance and emergency shelter. The needs for support just continue to increase throughout the community. Please sign up for a 1 hour shift for either or both days at the Hospitality Desk in the Gallery. Our hours will be from 9:00 am until 8:00 pm. We will be at the Hover Street Safeway store (1632 Hover Rd, Longmont, CO 80501). We will be staffing BOTH doors so extra help is needed. It is a wonderful family event! Bring the grand-kids to help out. And Youth bring your parents along for the fun. For questions, please contact Marty Allison at 303-772-7816 or martyallisonco@gmail.com. Thanks a bunch!!! Peaks Sub district Lay Ministry Council Leadership Training Saturday, January 19 at FUMC Loveland, 9:00 to 11:00 am Training designed for incoming chairpersons of these church committees: SPRC Church Council Finance Lay Leaders Please let us know if your committee chairs are interested and/or have questions. Please include name, church, leadership position, email address and phone number. Respond by December 1 to Bill Cosbey at bcos7@outlook.com or Judy Stout at jstout@lpbroadband.net so we can make adequate plans.
P a g e 9 November Compassion Offering Results The proceeds for the November Compassion Offering, The Inn Between, totaled a whopping $1,127. And because every $1 was matched, The Inn Between will receive $2,254 from our church! Because of your gifts, you ve softened hardships faced by many, many people. Your caring support has provided those living at The Inn with essentials and opportunities that give them hope for the future: a soft bed, warm walls to surround them, food in their cupboards, and most importantly mentors to help them access resources and offer assistance setting goals and actions plans for progressing from crisis to stability. You ve done that! It wouldn t happen without people, such as yourselves, who are there to keep others from falling between the cracks, or to offer a helping hand to those who have. Thank you so much for your generous donations. December Compassion Offering The compassion offering for December as well as the Christmas offering will go to Habitat for Humanity. The Heart of Longmont has been committed to Habitat for Humanity as an apostle build church for many years. This means besides participating in aiding in the construction of housing locally, we are also committed to make a yearly offering to them of $6700. All of the funds stay here in Boulder County to finance the homes that are built. Recently, Habitat finished its 80th house that has been built locally. Therefore, our December compassion and Christmas offerings will go to fulfill our financial commitment. Habitat for Humanity is committed to building homes for people who cannot afford to buy a home in a conventional method. A Habitat family finances their new home by taking out a low interest loan through Habitat. In addition to this every family has to donate a certain number of hours on the construction of their new home. By contributing sweat equity in the construction of their home, participants have a deep sense of ownership for the home. The Heart of Longmont takes pride in their long-standing commitment to this worthy organization.
P a g e 10 It s that time of year again! Angel Tree ~ We are blessed once again to have the honor of sponsoring Head Start families. Starting Sunday, November 25: Take a tag (or a few!) from the tree in the Gallery Purchase and gift wrap the item requested on the tag. Be sure to attach the tag to the package! Bring the gift, with tag attached, to the church and place it in the barrel in the office NO LATER than Sunday, December 16 Know that you made a difference in our community by showing these families the generous love of Christ! Call, text or email Misty Bone at 720-628-7261 or kidsofhol@hotmail.com. Mitten Tree ~ As the Angel Tree is emptied of tags, please fill the same tree with new gloves, mittens, hats, scarves, undies and/or socks for our Head Start children (sizes 2T-5T) who attend preschool in our church building. This is a special UMW (United Methodist Women) project. Operation Donut Delivery Looking for a simple, fun way to enrich the lives of others on Christmas Eve? Be a part of Operation Donut Delivery! What is ODD? Well, you either take half a dozen donuts or a full dozen donuts, (provided by the church of course) to a business, hospital, fire station, or anywhere else that is staffed on Christmas Eve. Each box has a note attached thanking the people there for taking time away from their family to serve our community. Donuts will be available to pick up after service on Christmas Eve. If you d like to claim a place, see the sign up sheet at the Hospitality Center in the Gallery. Heart of Longmont, 350 Eleventh Avenue, Longmont, CO 80501 heartoflongmont.org / 303-776-3523 / WIFI Password HOL2016M